Butler residents have demonstrated repeatedly that they enjoy a parade.

But it would have been understandable if this year's Veterans' Day Parade had witnessed a very sparse turnout; the sky was overcast and a cold rain pelted the parade route.

To the community's credit, though, residents here maintain a deep sense of patriotism and support for America's military forces, past and present, and are willing to endure some discomfort in the process of honoring defenders of this nation.

That more than 1,000 people lined the parade route on that cold, dreary day was commendable.

"I felt proud to stand there and salute our veterans," said Aaron Snyder, 15, of Fenelton, who has joined the Junior ROTC and plans to become a Marine after graduation from high school.

That pride in being an American was evident on the faces of others at the parade as well.

Bad weather doesn't dampen love of country, and that message was re-delivered in Butler on Veterans' Day.

The Moniteau School Board, which merited a jeer last weekend for its secrecy regarding the administrative leave of high school principal Steve Puskar, merits another one for its refusal Monday to even confirm whether Puskar is being paid during his leave.It shouldn't be comforting to district taxpayers knowing that their elected school officials are withholding such information.While some information tied to the principal might be outside the public's right to know at this time, Moniteau taxpayers do have a right to know whether money is being paid to Puskar while he is not working.Teri Henning, general counsel for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, confirmed Tuesday that since district spending is public information, the district should reveal whether Puskar's leave is paid or unpaid.At Monday's school board meeting, the board also refused to indicate whether it anticipated that Puskar would be returning. In addition, the board refused to indicate whether it would be addressing the situation at a later date.However, Doug Kimmey, board president, confirmed that Superintendent Trudy Peterman was continuing to serve as acting principal during Puskar's absence.When asked how the board would address parents' concerns surrounding Puskar's absence, Kimmey responded, "I would suggest that (parents) wait until the facts come out."The board continues to do district residents a disservice by also not divulging whether the leave relates to a school or personal issue, and whether district parents or taxpayers have any cause for alarm.And, as noted last week, it's unfair for Puskar to be subjected to rumors lacking any basis of fact. By its stance Monday, the board displayed a lack of concern about that possibility.Regardless of the outcome of the Puskar matter, Moniteau residents have acquired an image of their school board that they might not have had before.Unfortunately, it's an unflattering image.

Acting Allegheny County Sheriff William P. Mullen deserves praise for posting a "most wanted deadbeat parents" list on the sheriff's department Web site.The Web site is www.sheriffalleghenycounty.com.The deadbeat parents list includes the names, ZIP codes and pictures (when available) of those being sought. The list also is updated with "Captured" after a deadbeat parent is apprehended.Butler County Sheriff Dennis Rickard should pursue such an initiative on behalf of this county's children who are being denied the support that the courts have mandated.Consider what Allegheny County has accomplished. According to Mullen, the Allegheny Child Support Enforcement squad has picked up nearly 3,700 individuals and collected nearly $30 million in delinquent child support this year.That's not an accomplishment to be pooh-poohed.Butler County families being victimized by deadbeat parents should request that Rickard move forward with such an effort here.